Automatic vs Manual Driving

[IronWing]

I drive both regularly. Nothing like coming up on a stop light and stomping the clutch only to be gently reminded that I'm driving an automatic.

For back country driving I much prefer automatics. When I'm being bounced all over the truck, not having to shift is a blessing.

For driving in light-moderate traffic manuals can be fun but overall I prefer automatics.

 

[GTaudiophile]

My daily driver has been a manual for like 6 years now. I frankly would be bored to tears driving an autmatic. In fact I've had rentals with automatics and had to do my best not to fall asleep.

Manuals are simpler, more reliable, more efficient, and more engaging. You HAVE to pay attention to driving with a manual.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Chrono

Originally posted by: loki8481
I've driven both, and for my needs, there's really nothing special that manual does for me.

my current car's got some crazy manual mode, but I've never found a reason to use it.

are you talking about shiftronic/tiptronic/sportsshift or whatever?
that's no where near what a manual gearbox is like! WTF!

yeah, like I said, I've never used it.

but I've driven real manual cars -- that's what I learned to drive on, in fact -- and I've never felt like they provide anything (for my needs, at least) that makes up for the annoyance factor 😉

 

[Reckoner]

Since the amount of people driving automatics FAR outweighs manual, it's surprising to see the poll leaning towards the latter.

 

[Tab]

How long does it take to become comfortable driving a manual car? I've been driving my friends manual for the past week and it's not as fun as I thought it would be. How does manual driving become fun?

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: Tab
How long does it take to become comfortable driving a manual car? I've been driving my friends manual for the past week and it's not as fun as I thought it would be. How does manual driving become fun?

When you so comfortable that you not thinking when you should shift and start knowing how to match speeed with rev...that's when the fun kicks in.

Also having a sport car really helps instead of driving a Mazda Portegeeeeeeeeeeee

Driving a high revvin engine such as VTEC- which require high revv to squeez some output out. Thats when you want manual

 

[PingSpike]

I like being able to control the gear so as to hit hills in a more efficient manner...but after having my leg cramp up from working the clunk in a snow storm full of stop and go traffic, I started to see the wisdom of the automatic.

 

[SVT Cobra]

I love driving manuals, but only if the car is worth it, like a sports car. No point in having a *cough M4H cough* daily driver manual civic. 😛

 

[RedArmy]

I like the idea of rev-matching, heel and toe, and engine braking. I've been driving an automatic for a while now since my car is apart. I hate it oh so much, it's incredibly boring.

 

[bigredguy]

Manual all the way, the only time i think otherwise is southern california traffic. I have a feeling a lot of people who voted for automatic either can't drive a manual, or are just lazy/old... j/k

I like having the extra control with a manual. There's just certain things you can't do in an automatic.

 

[Instan00dles]

my car is manual but an automatic transmission wasent available for it. It also helps to keep me awake by having me actually have to concentrate and do something while driving, I had to drive an automatic van for a far drive and it was hard to keep myself awake.

 

[Rainsford]

Manual, I like the extra control you get...and when you have a car with a smallish engine, a manual transmission helps it feel a whole lot faster.

But how about a poll option for being pro-manual without being part of that "my manual transmission is what makes me a man" group? Man do I want to hit those guys in the face...it's a TRANSMISSION, and they have pills for your problem.

 

[Tab]

Originally posted by: RedArmy
I like the idea of rev-matching, heel and toe, and engine braking. I've been driving an automatic for a while now since my car is apart. I hate it oh so much, it's incredibly boring.

How do you do these things exactly?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Manual. Unless it's a truck since automatics are much better for towing.

It's an irrational preference, but I like it better.

ZV

 

[Eos]

THIS is a transmission: Text

Note the ratios: Text

But for driving around, either is fine. I control my gears in an automatic the same way I can with a manual trannsmission. If my speed is 20, I shift it into 2nd. No need to putter at 1100 rpm in 3rd. Same 40-50. It's held in 3rd until I am certain I don't need the power band in 3rd gear, then I go into OD and set cruise.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
There used to be a gas mileage advantage, but its negligable these days.

And unless its a model-T, the car is probably driving you anyway.

Somewhat similar to the cell-phone issue, people have way too many physical and mental distractions these days, especially while driving.
The automatic transmission helps alleviate one of these problems.

on the contrary. the manual FORCES you to pay attention to your DRIVING. the automatic is to blame for driver distraction, not the other way around.

 

[thoro86]

Stick is entertaining, until you drive in SF....

 

[Ferocious]

My wife owns an automatic.

I owned an automatic for one summer back in the 1980's. I'll probably buy one again soon as they are finally getting to be pretty good.

 

[Eeezee]

I never learned how to drive manual.

Oh, and the poll is biased against automatics yet the OP said he prefers them? 😕

 

[BD2003]

Real men can talk on their phone, drink coffee, and check themselves out in a mirror while driving stick.

Personally, I drive stick...its more interactive, and I like being able to choose what gear I'm in. I also appreciate getting every last bit of performance out of it, its cheaper etc..

But there are times when it irritates me to HAVE to shift....also, in my car at least, the shifter isn't the smoothest thing, so shifting actually requires a certain amount of effort, to punch it through the gates, especially on the highway. I'd probably downshift a lot more if it wasnt so much of a hassle.

Most annoying is the damn clutch...it's a complete and total hassle. I want to be able to choose my gear, but I don't like having to use a third pedal just to do so, especially one that when used improperly, or less than perfectly, can lead to grinding, stalling, bucking and lugging.

Ideally, I'd have a car with an auto trans and a manual shift gate, that has enough power that I don't feel cheated by the slushbox, and I can still control what gear I'm in around the city, without a damn clutch, and I can downshift to pass cleanly and effortlessly on the highway, and never have to deal with a clutch again in traffic.

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: BD2003
Real men can talk on their phone, drink coffee, and check themselves out in a mirror while driving stick.

Personally, I drive stick...its more interactive, and I like being able to choose what gear I'm in. I also appreciate getting every last bit of performance out of it, its cheaper etc..

But there are times when it irritates me to HAVE to shift....also, in my car at least, the shifter isn't the smoothest thing, so shifting actually requires a certain amount of effort, to punch it through the gates, especially on the highway. I'd probably downshift a lot more if it wasnt so much of a hassle.

Most annoying is the damn clutch...it's a complete and total hassle. I want to be able to choose my gear, but I don't like having to use a third pedal just to do so, especially one that when used improperly, or less than perfectly, can lead to grinding, stalling, bucking and lugging.

Ideally, I'd have a car with an auto trans and a manual shift gate, that has enough power that I don't feel cheated by the slushbox, and I can still control what gear I'm in around the city, without a damn clutch, and I can downshift to pass cleanly and effortlessly on the highway, and never have to deal with a clutch again in traffic.

You just drive a really sh!tty stick... The clutch is the whole point... if you just want to choose gears get one of thos manumatic garbage things... The clutch is how you REALLY control the car in a stick.

-Max

 

[RedArmy]

Originally posted by: Tab

Originally posted by: RedArmy
I like the idea of rev-matching, heel and toe, and engine braking. I've been driving an automatic for a while now since my car is apart. I hate it oh so much, it's incredibly boring.

How do you do these things exactly?

Rev Matching is hitting the gas right before you down shift so you don't lose any rpm's when you go to the other gear. Heel Toe is used mostly for course racing when you're going around a corner. You would have the clutch in, and as you are down shifting you are breaking with your heel but rev matching with your toes on the gas. It's pretty hardcore and hard to do unless you've done it for a long time. Engine braking is just putting it in a lower gear when going down a hill so you don't use your brakes. Nothin that fancy, just some little things that make stick more enjoyable to me

 

[Staples]

I don't mind either. My current car is standard.

But standard is over rated by all fanatics. Driving a 10 speed bike is a lot more fun playing with the gears.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

It's pretty much impossible to get road head while driving stick.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Doboji

Originally posted by: BD2003
Real men can talk on their phone, drink coffee, and check themselves out in a mirror while driving stick.

Personally, I drive stick...its more interactive, and I like being able to choose what gear I'm in. I also appreciate getting every last bit of performance out of it, its cheaper etc..

But there are times when it irritates me to HAVE to shift....also, in my car at least, the shifter isn't the smoothest thing, so shifting actually requires a certain amount of effort, to punch it through the gates, especially on the highway. I'd probably downshift a lot more if it wasnt so much of a hassle.

Most annoying is the damn clutch...it's a complete and total hassle. I want to be able to choose my gear, but I don't like having to use a third pedal just to do so, especially one that when used improperly, or less than perfectly, can lead to grinding, stalling, bucking and lugging.

Ideally, I'd have a car with an auto trans and a manual shift gate, that has enough power that I don't feel cheated by the slushbox, and I can still control what gear I'm in around the city, without a damn clutch, and I can downshift to pass cleanly and effortlessly on the highway, and never have to deal with a clutch again in traffic.

You just drive a really sh!tty stick... The clutch is the whole point... if you just want to choose gears get one of thos manumatic garbage things... The clutch is how you REALLY control the car in a stick.

-Max

How is the clutch the focal point? It's there to let you change the gears, and to slip it when you have to so you don't stall out and launch smoothly.

The tranny in my car (00 celica gt-s) is a double edged sword. The throws are super short, the gates are practically on top of each other, the action is tight instead of smooth, and the clutch is like a light switch. Fantastic for accelerating as fast as possible, when you really want to get the most out of it. Not so fantastic for casual shifting, but not too bad around town. A pain in the ass in traffic.

But thats just the shifter mostly...I fail to see how the clutch is of any fun purpose other than to be an extra step to fvck up. Don't get me wrong, I know what I'm doing, I rev match every shift etc...sometimes I just don't feel like doing it.